Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games. No copyright infringement is intended.

The Survival Game

PART I

The Contestants

Chapter 1

I know that my mother loves me. I just wish I understood why she won't act like she does.

For as long as I can remember, mother favors Rye. I don't believe he has ever quite realized it, being as oblivious as he is.

He goes around singing, silencing all of the birds in the woods with his lovely voice. Maybe if I train my voice to sound like his, mother will love me more. But I try, and fail.

I've taught myself to hunt in the woods, using arrows like I know my mother does. I don't think that she notices when a sheath of arrows and her old bow goes missing. I'm pretty handy with a knife, since I've had years of practice skinning my game, among other things. I know it's not necessary, but I prefer my own meat to the fancy things back home.

As the oldest child of the Mockingjay, I've heard many stories of the rebellion and war thirty or so years ago. How my mother was a symbol of hope for the rebels, and how she changed the direction of our country for years to come. Often, people drop by our house just to see her, still in awe of her. Sometimes they will bring news. I've developed a nasty habit of eavesdropping on these conversations.

There's a visitor today. I don't know who it is, but mother has taken them to the office. I creep down the stairs and listen outside of the door.

They are discussing worldwide unrest, and how they could possibly stop it.

By the tone of her voice, my mother is not surprised at the suggestion for settling the uprisings. A new game. The Survival Game. Seven weeks in an arena, thirty two people from around the world. My mother says it sounds like the hunger games. The visitor, who's voice I recognize as President Taryn, disagrees.

"It's very different, Katniss. The point of the Survival Games is survival, and helping each other out. We believe that through these games, unity will be established. They will have a common goal to win. It's not the governments that hate each other. It's the people."

It is probably naive of me to have thought that Panem was alone in the world. That after the war that had wiped out most of the world's population around two centuries ago, only Panem could rise from the ashes. But others have survived as well. There are four countries, including Panem, with inhabitants. Gondwana, almost directly south of Panem. Kalahari, east of Gondwana. And Rodinia, a very advanced nation north of Kalahari and east of Panem. And it seems that nobody is happy.

I don't really need to hear more, so I trudge quietly to my bedroom. I wish I could run out of my house and confide in my closest friend. But I don't have one. I was always quiet in school, preferring to keep to myself rather than converse with the other children. I worked alone, but there was one person I was close to.

I slip into Rye's room and let the door snap shut behind me. Rye is bent over his desk, working on homework. Being the perfect child as only he knows how. But at the sound of the door, he looks over at me. His grey eyes are wise beyond his years, and he searches my face to place my emotion.

"What is it, Astrid?" I breath deeply, trying to get the newly developed jitters out of my system. My fingers twitch against my thigh. I don't know why I'm so distressed.

"Panem isn't the only country with humans," I say quickly, assessing his reaction. There is none.

"I know," Rye replies. I raise a brow, confused. Never in our lives had we been told of the existence of nations besides our own.

"How?" I ask, moving to sit on his bed.

"I've heard mother talk about it. Sometimes she told me stories of the other countries, but they were vague because she didn't know much." I frown. I never heard a single story about anything other than my parent's youth.

"They're creating a new game." This alarms Rye, as he stands abruptly. "The Survival Game. It's supposed to show unity among the nations. Thirty two contestants from around the world... so if they're equal from each country, that's eight people." Rye paces as I explain what I know. Then he stops. He is more calm now. He turns those knowledgable grey eyes on me.

"Astrid, do you know how many people are in Panem?" I shake my head in dissent. "A lot. What are the chances that you and I will be picked?" Slim to none, I think, and I too start to feel better.

"But what about the people who are picked?" I hedge.

"The aim of the game is not to kill, but to survive." I don't think that will turn out so well, but I remain silent. "You worry too much. I'm sure we'll hear about it officially soon." With that, Rye returns to his desk to continue working, effectively dismissing me.

.SG.

It's about a week later when Mayor Keating announces that there will be a mandatory television event this evening at 5. Rye and I exchange a knowing glance. We had somehow remained silent about the whole affair during the week, and now we will certainly know for sure that the Survival Game will occur.

The seal of the Capitol comes onto the television, followed by the announcer, a woman named Cressida whom my mother knew. She is smiling, though a hint of worry is in her eyes.

"Good evening, Panem. My name is Cressida, and I'm here to give you an important update.

"Our country of Panem is not alone in this world, as some of you may think. In fact, there are a total of four countries: Kalahari in the southeast, Gondwana in the southwest, Rodinia in the northeast, and our own Panem in the northwest. Mostly, we steer clear of each other. But lately, citizens of each country have been... unhappy, to say the least." There's a cut here, and a clip of very dark skinned people are shown calling for the annihilation of Rodinia, Panem and Gondwana. I automatically categorize them as the Kalaharians.

"The leaders of the four countries have met and agree that immediate action must be taken. Which leads us to our next announcement." Cressida plasters on a gigantic fake smile. "The first ever Survival Game! A worldwide televised event!

"All men and women between the ages of 16 and 22 that are deemed fit of body and mind will be selected at random to participate. Eight members of each nation will be selected, four female, four male. The aim of the game is to survive the conditions of the arena. There will be eight teams of four, consisting of a member of each country. Once a week, there will be a challenge, and the winning team is granted a prize. After the challenge is Tribunal, where members of the game vote which team they think is weakest. That, in combination with a ruling by four judges, removes one team each week. The final two teams will have a special challenge, then the winner will be determined by the judges.

"The contestants will be selected in two days time. Thank you, Panem, and may the odds forever be in your favor." With a little wave, the seal of the Capitol returns, then the screens go blank. For a moment, there is complete silence.

And then the talk breaks out. I hear snippets of conversation, but the general feeling is the same.

It's the Hunger Games all over again.

.SG.

Anxiety runs high for the next two days. Some people are contemplating running away, and a few families do. Some people from the Seam are gone by morning, leaving the mines short handed. While life is generally better than what mother and father lived through at my age, the Seam is still the site of rather small, run down houses. The town is still full of wealthier merchants, like the bakers and the shoe makers. The whispers are the same in both neighborhoods; nervous and curious. Who will be the unlucky 8 selected for the games?

The world will find out at 5 tonight.

I realize that I want to be selected for the Survival Game. At first, the reason eludes me. And suddenly, while I'm waiting on line for a loaf of bread, it comes to me.

I want to impress the Mockingjay. I want her to be proud of me, as a winner. I could outlive and outlast all the others. It's in my blood.

The jitters return. An almost maniacal smile creeps onto my lips as I purchase the bread. I rush home, my long dark hair whipping in the wind behind me. I hand the bread to my father, who looks at me, worried. We return to the square, and the whole District turns to the televisions which are now showing the Capitol seal. And then, Cressida is there.

"Hello again, Panem, this is Cressida here with the results of the contestant drawings for Panem. Let's get right down to business, shall we?" Someone hands her a list, presumably with 8 names on it.

"From District 7, Lily Kinnel. From District 11, Coty Pendergrass. From District 4, Finn Aquea. From District 7, Alexander Mason. From District 3, Dexter Electrode. From District 1, Emmeline Marvel. From District 10, Kylie Pepsin. And finally, from District 12, Astrid Everdeen.

"Thank you all for tuning in tonight. Those selected, please report to the Justice Building for further instructions." The Capitol seal returns. Again, the square is silent.

All eyes are on me.

I'm scared now. But I don't show it. I wanted to do this. And I will.

.SG.

I shuffle into the Justice Building maybe five minutes after I have been made a contestant on The Survival Game. A woman with violently pink hair waits for me there. Her eyes search my face.

"Katniss's daughter if I've ever seen her," she says simply. She holds out her hand. "Effie Trinket. I'm here to, in essence, babysit you until your entry into the arena. I did the same with your mother and father in their Hunger Games." A smile breaks out across her face. I follow her through the building into an office with a large desk and some comfortable chairs. Effie seats herself behind the desk, and I sit across from her.

"So we're just going to conduct a preliminary interview, so we know what you're like. Your name?"

Feeling slightly confused, I answer "Astrid Everdeen."

"Your age?"

"Seventeen."

"What do you feel is your greatest strength?" And so on. Some of the questions caught me off guard, such as "Do you have a boyfriend?" (to which I responded no, of course).

I suppose I was in there for about twenty minutes when Effie decided that there had been enough questioning.

"Thanks, Astrid. One last question. Do you know why your last name is Everdeen, not Mellark?" I'm stumped on that one. Maybe it's because my mother was the Mockingjay, and her name was symbolic. Or maybe because it sounded better. I shrug, showing that I honestly have no idea. "Alright. I should probably tell you more about the game. You know the basic premise from watching the program a few nights ago, correct?" I nod. "Good.

"There is a place, rather far from here, called Pilbara. It is a large island, and has been claimed by Rodinia. However, they have offered to hold the game on this island. There will still be an arena, created by Gamemakers, that no one will know of before the start of the game. You will be flown to Pilbara via hovercraft tomorrow at noon. The families of the contestants are invited to come on the trip as well, and will stay in a location near the arena. However, you will not have any contact with your family during the game.

"Like the Hunger Games, you will have sponsors and a mentor. A man named Gale Hawthorne will be your mentor." The name rings a bell but I can't quite place it. "Sponsors will send things, perhaps food or drink if you are having difficulty, and I decide when to send these items to you in the game. You will be filmed, but you never know when you're actually being shown on the screen. You may bring one item with you into the arena. You will be provided clothes fit for the arena, and a backpack. Do you have any questions?" I try to digest the information as fast as I can, and I am silent. "Good luck. Please try to be here by 11:30 tomorrow morning with your one item. See you then." I numbly stand, and make my way out of the Justice Building.

As I walk home, I speak words of assurance under my breath.

"Alright, Astrid, you wanted this. You can prove that you are strong, that you can work with your team to be the best. This is different from the legendary Hunger Games. You will survive. It's the aim of the game. You will help stop the unrest throughout the world. You will be great." By the time I walk in the door, I feel marginally better.

But what really turns my mood up is my father, waiting for me in the front hall. He gathers me in his arms, then leads me to the kitchen.

We bake a loaf of bread, the kind with the lovely cheese on top.

.SG.

Mother and father fight that night. Because of the game. Because of me.

I find myself on the staircase, listening in as usual. I'm never caught.

"Peeta, this is exactly why I didn't want children. I had a bad feeling about this happening. And they've practically brought back the games, and Astrid is part of them!"

"Katniss," says my father. I can't see them, but I know he is putting a consoling hand on her shoulder. "How could we have known? These children have been in our lives for years, and we've loved them. Do you really regret this?" Mother remains silent.

"I don't want her to get hurt," she says finally.

"It's the Survival Games. Not the Hunger Games. I understand where you're coming from. But Astrid is strong. She's just like you." More silence.

"I know," mother says finally. "Which is why I'm so worried. I did everything I possibly could to survive. I chose alliances that weren't necessarily blatant choices, but in the end, they were the most useful. If Astrid is as much like me as we think, she's going to want to win. She will do anything to protect her team, as they will be vital in her survival. But she won't be able to choose. Who knows how that will work out for her."

"And because of this, you're here now with two beautiful children and a husband who adores you," father replies. Another pause, and then mother speaks again.

"The Hunger Games are back. Real or not real?"

"Not real. This is different... I hope."

"I hope so too."

There is nothing more to hear, so I return to my room. I lay awake that night, my head full of questions. Would I die in the arena? Would the Gamemakers allow it? Will I make an ally from a different country? Could I win? Would everything be 'okay?' With all the questions unanswered, I finally drift off into a fitful sleep.

My dreams are filled with mysterious woods and loaves of cheesy bread.

Panem= North America

Rodinia= Eurasia

Kalahari= Africa

Gondwana= South America

Pilbara= Australia